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    Top Colleges in North Carolina

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

    Full Bio

    Learn about our editorial policies

    Updated: June 6th, 2024

    It’s no secret that North Carolina has some great options for college. With schools like Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest, North Carolina draws in students from all across the country every year. Check out the North Carolina colleges below to find the right fit for you.

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    47 colleges
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    D

    Duke University

    Durham, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Did you know that Duke University is home to the largest lemur sanctuary in the world? What's more, Tim Cook, Mike Posner, and Ken Jeong all graduated from the school.…Read More

    Did you know that Duke University is home to the…Read More

    6% acceptance
    97% graduation rate
    6,570 undergrads
    $30,785 net price
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    N

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, NC • Public, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    UNC, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the oldest public university in the United States. Known for its strong programs in public health and journalism, the university boasts notable…Read More

    UNC, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the oldest…Read More

    17% acceptance
    91% graduation rate
    19,921 undergrads
    $12,414 net price
    D

    Davidson College

    Davidson, NC • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    With programs like Wildcat Weekend and Davidson Outdoors, Davidson has a thriving student life and rigorous liberal arts academics. Notable alumni include Woodrow Wilson and Steph Curry.

    With programs like Wildcat Weekend and Davidson Outdoors, Davidson has…Read More

    17% acceptance
    92% graduation rate
    1,922 undergrads
    $20,035 net price
    W

    Wake Forest University

    Winston-Salem, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    With an impressively low student:faculty ratio, students receive individualized attention and mentorship from their professors at Wake Forest in NC. Wake Forest's beautiful campus features Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village,…Read More

    With an impressively low student:faculty ratio, students receive individualized attention…Read More

    21% acceptance
    90% graduation rate
    5,446 undergrads
    $34,720 net price
    N

    North Carolina State University at Raleigh

    Raleigh, NC • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    North Carolina State University, situated in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a leading public research university known for its strengths in engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. NCSU is part of the…Read More

    North Carolina State University, situated in Raleigh, North Carolina, is…Read More

    47% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    25,109 undergrads
    $16,563 net price
    A

    Appalachian State University

    Boone, NC • Public, Town

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Appalachian State University is a public 4-year college located in Boone, North Carolina. There are currently 18,467 undergraduates at Appalachian State and the school’s acceptance rate is 83%. The tuition…

    Appalachian State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    83% acceptance
    75% graduation rate
    18,467 undergrads
    $14,765 net price
    S

    Salem College

    Winston-Salem, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Salem College, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a private women's liberal arts college with a focus on empowering women through a rigorous education. The college's campus features the 18th-century…Read More

    Salem College, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a private…Read More

    87% acceptance
    62% graduation rate
    331 undergrads
    $16,717 net price
    W

    University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Wilmington, NC • Public, City

    University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public 4-year college located in Wilmington, North Carolina. There are currently 13,960 undergraduates at UNCW and the school’s acceptance rate is 69%. The…

    University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public 4-year college…Read More

    69% acceptance
    74% graduation rate
    13,960 undergrads
    $19,442 net price
    A

    University of North Carolina School of the Arts

    Winston Salem, NC • Public, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public 4-year college located in Winston Salem, North Carolina. There are currently 915 undergraduates at UNCSA and the school’s acceptance…Read More

    University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a…Read More

    32% acceptance
    82% graduation rate
    915 undergrads
    $13,211 net price
    E

    Elon University

    Elon, NC • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Located in Elon, North Carolina, Elon University is recognized for its strong emphasis on experiential learning. Students often engage in internships, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research. Notable alumni include…Read More

    Located in Elon, North Carolina, Elon University is recognized for…Read More

    74% acceptance
    83% graduation rate
    6,337 undergrads
    $38,001 net price
    C

    University of North Carolina at Charlotte

    Charlotte, NC • Public, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public 4-year college located in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are currently 23,063 undergraduates at UNC Charlotte and the school’s acceptance rate is…Read More

    University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public 4-year…Read More

    80% acceptance
    70% graduation rate
    23,063 undergrads
    $15,018 net price
    E

    East Carolina University

    Greenville, NC • Public, City

    East Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in Greenville, North Carolina. There are currently 20,385 undergraduates at ECU and the school’s acceptance rate is 92%. The tuition at…

    East Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    92% acceptance
    65% graduation rate
    20,385 undergrads
    $16,703 net price
    A

    University of North Carolina at Asheville

    Asheville, NC • Public, City

    University of North Carolina at Asheville is a public 4-year college located in Asheville, North Carolina. There are currently 2,803 undergraduates at UNC Asheville and the school’s acceptance rate is…Read More

    University of North Carolina at Asheville is a public 4-year…Read More

    74% acceptance
    59% graduation rate
    2,803 undergrads
    $13,637 net price
    M

    Meredith College

    Raleigh, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. There are currently 1,294 undergraduates at Meredith and the school’s acceptance rate is 73%. The tuition at…

    Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    73% acceptance
    68% graduation rate
    1,294 undergrads
    $20,269 net price
    W

    Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NC • Public, Town

    Western Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. There are currently 9,809 undergraduates at WCU and the school’s acceptance rate is 85%. The tuition at…

    Western Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    85% acceptance
    61% graduation rate
    9,809 undergrads
    $13,801 net price
    G

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Greensboro, NC • Public, City

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public 4-year college located in Greensboro, North Carolina. There are currently 13,862 undergraduates at North Carolina at Greensboro and the school’s acceptance…Read More

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public 4-year…Read More

    92% acceptance
    58% graduation rate
    13,862 undergrads
    $10,907 net price
    W

    Wingate University

    Wingate, NC • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Wingate University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Wingate, North Carolina. There are currently 2,509 undergraduates at Wingate and the school’s acceptance rate is 86%. The tuition at…

    Wingate University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    86% acceptance
    57% graduation rate
    2,509 undergrads
    $18,251 net price
    N

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Greensboro, NC • Public, City

    North Carolina A & T State University is a public 4-year college located in Greensboro, North Carolina. There are currently 11,553 undergraduates at NC A&T and the school’s acceptance rate…Read More

    North Carolina A & T State University is a public…

    56% acceptance
    57% graduation rate
    11,553 undergrads
    $10,582 net price
    Q

    Queens University of Charlotte

    Charlotte, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Queens University of Charlotte is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are currently 1,301 undergraduates at Queens Charlotte and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%.…

    Queens University of Charlotte is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    71% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    1,301 undergrads
    $30,230 net price
    H

    High Point University

    High Point, NC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    High Point University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in High Point, North Carolina. There are currently 4,965 undergraduates at High Point and the school’s acceptance rate is 79%.…

    High Point University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    79% acceptance
    68% graduation rate
    4,965 undergrads
    $37,285 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

    State Grants in North Carolina

    Most states offer their own state-wide grants to help residents obtain an affordable education. Here are some of the most prominent state-wide grants in North Carolina:

    NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private College Students

    This need-based scholarship calculates eligibility through the FAFSA and subsidizes private school education for North Carolina students who end up attending school in-state.

    NC Scholarship

    North Carolina residents attending a University of North Carolina school can apply for a NC Scholarship if they meet financial need criteria. As long as students meet the criteria for this grant and apply while funds remain, they should receive it; there is no competitive application involved.

    NC Education Lottery Scholarship

    The NC Education Lottery Scholarship offers scholarships to NC residents attending schools in the state. Requirements are not especially strict; undergraduate students who meet Pell Grant requirements and fulfill the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of their school are eligible. 

    North Carolina Tuition Reciprocity Agreements

    North Carolina does not participate in undergraduate tuition reciprocity programs, but if you are a graduate student, be sure to look into the Academic Common Market, because the state does participate for graduate programs.

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the hardest North Carolina college to get into?

    Duke University has the lowest acceptance rate of any college in the state of North Carolina, admitting 6% of admitted students in 2023.

    But this low admission rate should not deter you from applying. Remember, your application can always catch an admissions officer’s eye, and everyone should apply to at least a couple of reach schools!

    Why should I study in North Carolina?

    North Carolina is a great state to attend college if you’re interested in doing research in technology, biotechnology, or healthcare. It’s been a hub of innovation in each of these fields. It’s also a state with amazing natural features and outdoor activities. You can find both beautiful mountains and sandy beaches, all in the same state. The state is also more affordable than states like California and New York, all while being home to some of the most prestigious colleges in the country, like Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. 

     

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